Wow, that's looking great. I'm excited to see how the new SLC terminal turns out.

SLC has nothing to worry about as far as losing its hub like Memphis and Cincinnati. The only thing that *might* happen is that Delta's recent growth in Seattle and Los Angeles might cut into SLC's traffic flows a little, mostly in traffic from Alaska/Pac-NW to California that might otherwise go through SLC. But I have my doubts the Seattle experiment will last and even if it does pan out for them the impact would not be that significant.

I like how the final date on the timeline calls for a decision, to either renovate the existing B, C, and D or to proceed with a new north concourse.

I wonder if SLC bid for the 2024 Winter games and is awarded the games if the entire time table might be sped up a bit, possibly more $$ from the Feds and possibly from Delta (if they were the official 2024 airline), just something I've wondered. Perhaps if awarded the games the construction of the north concourse would be simultaneous to Phase 1B.

I would venture to guess, Olympics scenario aside, that with the growth SLC and the entire state is having, the decision in 2023 will be to proceed with Phase 2, rather than renovate.

With one in five flights delayed and major U.S. airports including Salt Lake City International hosting far more passengers than their capacity, flying is becoming increasingly difficult and frustrating.

Two reports issued Wednesday by the U.S. Travel Association and Eno Center for Transportation say that U.S. air travel facilities are in such bad shape that Thanksgiving-like passenger congestion usually experienced the Wednesday before the holiday will become a year-round reality at nearly all of the top 50 U.S. Airports within the decade.

The studies revealed that airports already are struggling to keep up with current air travel demand and that expected growth in passenger volume threatens to overwhelm the system. Federal budget constraints caused by sequestration and lack of income to upgrade air traffic control systems are major obstacles to improving the crisis.

The four major airports already experiencing Thanksgiving-like congestion levels at least one day every week include John F. Kennedy International in New York, McCarran International in Las Vegas, Orlando International and Chicago Midway. The report said that 24 of the top 30 airports, including Salt Lake City International, will experience the same congestion level within the next five years.

The report said that one day a week will feel like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at Salt Lake International starting in 2016. Unless something is done to improve the situation, that will go up to two days in 2020 and every day in 2038.

Barbara Gann, spokeswoman for the Salt Lake airport, said the current facility was constructed to handle 12 million passengers a year but is currently hosting 20 million, making it already undersized. While the airport’s three runways can handle increased traffic, its outdated terminal cannot.

"That is one of the motivations for our terminal redevelopment program," said Gann. "That will address aging facilities as well as improving our facilities. It will address seismic risks and ease capacity constraints."

Gann said construction on new Salt Lake City International terminals is scheduled to begin next year with a completion date of 2019.

Those were my exact thoughts also Farmerboy, regarding the materials and textures. Too many of the newer airports as of late have used an overabundance of WHITE. Their focus is on an impressive comtemporary design, but ultimately for me the feeling is cold and vapid. Instead, Salt Lake City International is focusing on a warm, rich, welcoming atmosphere. IMO, that is extremely important.

Looks like there's quite a few areas with the higher ceilings though. When all is said and done, not sure how many, but I notice a few of the renderings with the cathedral ceilings. Look at page 18, two of the upper smaller renderings. Also page 20, with the rental car lobby. I agree, and hopefully there will be plenty of the customary vaulted ceilings.

Not an SLCer, but I like planes. This Alaska expansion at SLC goes back to the Delta-Alaska codesharing agreement out of Seattle: Delta wanted to build up their international presence at Seattle, and Alaska would provide a bunch of domestic connecting feed. Delta then went and started adding domestic routes out of Seattle, and Alaska is finally retaliating against Delta changing the agreement by adding flights against Delta by attacking Delta's SLC hub.

As to how this Alaskan expansion will affect SLC, I'll leave that up to the locals.

I think it reflects demand from SLC as a starting point and as a destination. I honestly think as news like this continues over the next 10 years that phase II (north concourse) of the expansion will occur rather than simply stopping at the end of Phase I.

I haven't posted on the topic in a while, but here are some additional renderings. Keep in mind it is still not finalized but for the most part, this is what it will be for phase 1. Phase 2 will add the additional concourse to the north connected with tunnels and automated people mover train. There is also space reserved for a large airport hotel built adjacent to the terminal in phase 2.

As for other SLC news, the new Alaska routes have been mentioned. Alaska has moved to terminal 1 and operates out of concourse A. Previously they had used a Delta gate and check-in was in terminal 2. Alaska could indeed add more routes but they are limited on gate space. SLC-Hawaii nonstop on Alaska is not likely right now because they don't have the aircraft with the needed range and performance to make it nonstop from SLC. There is enough demand, but it will have to be one-stop via other cities. Mexico could happen, we'll see.

Other new routes include Delta non-stop to Raleigh/Durham, NC which started today. SkyWest (Delta Connection) was awarded essential air service grants from the federal government to start new flights from SLC to Moab and Vernal beginning in March. There will be two flights a day to each city (1 on Sat/Sun). This service will replace existing service from Vernal to Denver and Moab to Denver on Great Lakes Airlines. The flights to Vernal and Moab will be operated with 30 seat Embraer Brasilia aircraft.

The Delta/Alaska competition is heating up and it will be interesting to see what Delta does to protect its turf.

Awesome.. Thanks for the new renders. Can't wait for the final renderings whenever they come out. I just want to see big and airy.

As for Alaska Airlines to Hawaii, would not the 737-700/900ER be sufficient for the distance, or is the altitude too much? The range for those are about 3700. Would that not be enough to cover the 2990 to honolulu?

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It is possible, yes. The plane itself can fly the distance. It's getting off the ground in SLC with a decent payload where the problem lies. A 737 flying that long a route out of SLC plus needing to meet ETOPS (extended range twin operations) restrictions and flying into headwinds would result in significant weight restrictions, meaning carrying less payload.

Perhaps with the new generation 737 Max coming out in a few years it might be feasible.

I think Hawaiian Airlines could start SLC service and do well. The SLC-Hawaii market is quite large. There's room for another airline besides Delta to serve Hawaii nonstop.